Local & Regional

7:50 am

Wed August 17, 2011

Another Guardsman Lost

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A Moore man is the seventh Oklahoma soldier in recent weeks to die while serving in Afghanistan.

The Oklahoma National Guard confirmed Tuesday that 1st Lt. Damon T. Leehan, was killed Sunday when a military vehicle in which he was riding struck an improvised explosive device in the Alingar district of Laghman Province.

Officials say the 30-year-old Leehan was a platoon leader with Edmond-based Company A, 1st Battalion, 179 Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He is the sixth Oklahoma National Guard soldier to die in Afghanistan since July 29.

Leehan enlisted in the Oklahoma Army National Guard in 1998 and previously was deployed to Afghanistan in 2003 and 2004.

Maj. Gen. Myles Deering says members of Leehan's unit will miss him but they'll carry on in his memory.